Well bore wall cleaner



Oct. 4, 1966 B. c. JAY 3,276,522

WELL BORE WALL CLEANER Filed Jan. 31, 1964 Eyre/7 C. day

INVENTOR.

W v PM United States Patent 3,276,522 WELL BORE WALL CLEANER Byron C. Jay, P.0. Box 517, Sour Lake, Tex. Filed Jan. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 341,673 4 Claims. (Cl. 166-173) The present invention relates to a bore wall cleaner and more particularly to a bore wall cleaner that is adapted to be positioned on multiple production tubular members to be positioned in a well bore.

In present day methods of production of oil and gas, it is not uncommon to have two, three, four, or five production strings extending upwardly in the well bore to the earths surface whereby fluid may be produced from various formations through each of the production strings. During well completion operations, it is desirable to position the multiple production tubular members in the well bore in the manner to prevent their becoming entangled with each other, and also it is desirable to provide a device so that the well bore wall may be cleaned in a manner as is done when a singular production tubular member is employed. It can be appreciated that such cleaning should be accomplished without affecting or disturbing the relationship or spacing of the tubular members in the well bore, and is preferably accomplished under normal cementing operations so that the well bore cleaning operation is preferably accomplished after the multiple production strings are in the well bore and immediately prior to discharging cement downwardly therethrough or cementing the production strings in the well.

Heretofore, no suitable means has been provided to enable the well bore wall to be cleaned where a plurality of production tubular members are positioned in the well bore. The present invention provides a device of relatively simple construction which enables the well bore wall to be cleaned in those situations where multiple production tubular members are to be used in the well bore.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a well bore wall cleaner which is constructed and arranged so that it can be easily and quickly positioned on a plurality of production tubular members to enable the well bore wall to be cleaned by reciprocation of the production tubular members in the well bore and which device may also function as reinforcing in the cementing of the oil wells.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is -a vertical sectional view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention positioned on multiple production tubular members and showing the production tubular members and device in a segment of a well bore;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 to better illustrate the structural details of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the device illustrated in FIGS. 13, inclusive, sprung open in order that it may be positioned on a group of production tubular members; and

FIG. 5 illustrates another form of the invention wherein the Wall bore cleaning means comprises a plurality of scratcher fingers in lieu of the flexible loops illustrated on FIGS. 1-4, inclusive.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 2 of the drawings wherein the invention is illustrated in a form suitable for use with three tubular production members. The invention will be described in connection with its use on three production members; however, it can be appreciated that necessary structural adjustments can be made to employ the present invention on a group of two, four, five or even more production tubular members.

In FIG. 2 the invention is referred to generally by the numeral 7 and is shown as including the annular member referred to generally at 8, which annular member is formed of the segments 9, 10 and 11. Generally speaking, the number of segments forming the annular member 8 will depend upon the number of production tubular members upon which the device is to be used, and in the present illustration, since three production tubular members are shown, the annular member 8 is segmented into three portions :as noted. The annular segments 9, 10 and 11 are secured together by suitable means such as the hinges 13. The pin for each hinge may be a rod having an enlarged head, a nail, or other suitable means which enables at least one of the hinges 13 to be readily opened so that the annular member 9 may be opened as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Suitable means are provided for surrounding each of the production tubular members, and the preferred arrangement is that as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings wherein arcuate portions 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, and 22 are shown as having one end secured by any suitable means such as by welding as illustrated at 14 to the innner surface of the ring 9 whereby the arcuate portions 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, and 22 extend inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of the annular member 9 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

It will be further noted that as shown in the drawings the arcuate portions 15, 18, and 21 are somewhat shorter in extent than the arcuate portions 16, 19, and 22, and these portions are secured to the longer arcuate portions by suitable means such as welds 14a as illustrated in the drawings. It will be further noted that one short arcuate portion and one long arcuate portion cooperate to surround each of the production tubular members represented in the drawings by the numbers 25, 26, and 27. It will be noted that each of the shorter arcuate portions 15, 18, and 21 faces the opposed spaced longer arcuate portions 22, 16, and 19, respectively. Also, as shown in the drawings, each ring segment 9, 10, and 11 carries one short and one long arcuate portion with each short arcuate portion and long arcuate portion being positioned relative to each other and relative to the hinge means 13 connecting the annular portions 9, 10, and 11 together so as to properly space the arcuate portions to enable them to be spread apart for initially engaging or surrounding each of the production tubular members 25, 26, and 27 and also for properly positioning the arcuate portions to enable the well bore wall cleaner to be not only easily engaged but to be readily disengaged therefrom when desired.

Suitable means are mounted on the device for engag ing and cleaning the well bore wall and in FIG. 2 the preferred form of cleaning means is shown as including an elongated flexible member which forms a plurality of loops extending outwardly to engage the well bore wall. It can be appreciated that the loops may be formed of individual pieces of flexible wire rope or they may be formed from one length as illustrated in the drawings. It will be noted that one end of the flexible wire rope is shown at 30, the wire rope being indicated generally by the numeral 31. A fastener 32 may be mounted on one of the segments for engaging the end 30 of the wire rope 31, and thereafter the plurality of spaced engaging means 33 on the segments 9, 10 and 11 are provided whereby the wire rope 31 may be secured to the portions 9, 10 and 11 to form a plurality of inner loops 35 and a plurality of outer loops 36. The other end 38 is engaged on one of the segments of the annular member 10 so that when the pin is pulled from the hinge means, the device may be separated as is shown in FIG. 4, and when the device is positioned on the tubular production members 25, 26 and 27 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and. the hinge means connected together, the loops overlap continuously about the circumference of the annular member 8 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

In some situations it may be desirable to use a form of the wall cleaning means illustrated in FIG. 5 where a plurality of fingers 40 formed of wire, rods or other suit-able material are mounted at spaced intervals on the rangements, stop collars of a well known design may be provided on the tubular production members for limiting longitudinal movement of the device 7.

While it is believed that the operation of the invention is apparent by reason of the foregoing description, to further amplify and describe, it will be assumed that the device is of the configuration as shown for being posiitoned on three production members. The hinge pin from one of the hinge means is removed to enable the device to be swung open whereupon the arcuate portions are inserted between the production tubular members as 'shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and the annular segments closed and the hinge pin reinserted whereupon the device will assume the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

Thereafter a pin may be driven through the opening 43 for engaging the adjacent tubular production member for limiting the movement of the device 7 longitudinally of the production string. Thereafter, reciprocation of the multiple production string in the well bore in a manner well known in the art will move the outer loops 36 up 'and down against the adjacent well bore wall 50 for cleaning thereof.

As previously described, the arcuate portions are spaced. on each of the annular segments relative to the hinge means 13 and relative to each other to enable proper positioning of the device on a multiple production string. As shown in the drawings, it will be noted that the hinge means 13 is slightly offset relative to the longitudinal axis of each of the production tubular members. In most situations this will be the desired construction ,to enable proper closing of the device 7 about the multiple production string.

,Also, it is to be noted that at least one of the arcuate portions extends inwardly and terminates adjacent other arcuate portions relatively close to the axial center of the annular member 8 to effectively maintain separation of the production tubular members and thereby inhibit their becoming entangled as they are lowered into the well bore.

As previously noted, certain modifications will be required to enable the device to be used on multiple production strings, where the number of production tubular members is two, four, five or more. It can be appreciated that such changes may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a well bore Wall cleaner for positioning on a multiple string of production tubular members, which device may be easily and quickly positioned on the multiple production string as it is being lowered into the well bore for cleaning of the well bore wall, and which arrangement enables the device to function as a separator for the production tubular members and as a reinforcing for cementing operations.

What is claimed is 1. A well bore wall cleaner for use on multiple production tubular members to be positioned in a well bore including,

(a) an annular member,

(b) said member being formed of a plurality of annular segments, the number of segments corresponding to the number of production tubular members to be engaged by the well bore wal-l cleaner,

(c) hinge means connecting said segments together to form said annular member,

(d) arcuate portions secured to said annular segments and spaced from each other on each side of said hinge means,

(e) said arcuate portions extending generally inwardly towards the central longitudinal axis of said annular member,

(f) at least one of said hinge means having a removable pin whereby said annular member may be swung open to enable said arcuate portions to be positioned about the production tubular members,

(g) means for limiting movement of the well bore wiper longitudinally of the production tubular members,

(-h) an elongated flexible member, and

(i) means securing said flexible member on said annular member to form a plurality of overlapping loops extending outwardly from said member for engaging and wiping the well bore wall.

2. A well bore wall cleaner for use on multiple production tubular members to be positioned in a well bore including:

' (a) an annular member formed of a plurality of segments,

(b) hinge means securing said segments together to form said annular member,

(0) arcuate portions secured to said segments and extending inwardly toward the axial center of said annular member,

(d) at least one of said hinge means having a removable pin to enable said annular member to be opened,

(e) said arcuate portions being mounted on said annular segments in relation to said hinge means and in relation to each other so that when said annular member is opened, said arcuate portions are moved apart to enable a production tubular member to be moved therebetween,

(f) said arcuate portions moving toward each other when said annular member is closed whereby said arcuate portions surround said production tubular members,

(g) an elongated flexible member, and

(h) means securing said flexible member on said annular member to form a plurality of overlapping loops extending outwardly from said member for engaging and wiping the well bore wall.

3. A well bore wall cleaner for use on multiple production tubular members to be positioned in a well bore including:

(a) an annular member formed of a plurality of seg ments,

(b) hinge means securing said segments together to form said annular member,

(c) arcuate portions secured to said segments and extending inwardly toward the axial center of said annular member,

((1) at least one of said hinge means having a removable pin to enable said annular member to be opened,

(e) said arcuate portions being mounted on said annular segments in relation to said hinge means and in relation to each other so that when said annular member is opened, said arcuate portions are moved apart to enable a production tubular member to be moved therebetween,

(f) said arcuate portions moving toward each other when said annular member is closed whereby said arcuate portions surround said production tubular members,

(g) an elongated flexible member, and

(h) means spaced circumferentially about said annular member for securing said flexible member thereto, said last named means also positioning said flexible member to extend outwardly from said annular member for engaging and [cleaning the well bore wall.

4. A Well bore wall cleaner for use on multiple production tubular members to be positioned in a well bore including:

(a) an annular member formed of a plurality of segments,

(b) hinge means securing said segments together to form said annular member,

('0) arcuate portions secured to said segments and extending inwardly toward the axial center of said annular member,

((1) at least one of said hinge means having a removable pin to enable said annular member to be opened,

(e) said arcuate portions being mounted on said annular segments in relation to said hinge means and in relation to each other so that when said annular member is opened, said arcuate portions are moved apart to enable a production tubular member to be moved therebetween,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Guirl 1381 12 X Hall 166173 X Wright et a1. 166173 Brooks 166-241 Hall 166172 Solum et al. 166-173 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

20 D. H. BROWN, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A WELL BORE WALL CLEANER FOR USE ON MULTIPLE PRODUCTION TUBULAR MEMBERS TO BE POSITIONED IN A WELL BORE INCLUDING: (A) AN ANNULAR MEMBER FORMED OF A PLURALITY OF SEGMENTS, (B) HINGE MEANS SECURING SAID SEGMENTS TOGETHER TO FORM SAID ANNULAR MEMBER, (C) ARCUATE PORTIONS SECURED TO SAID SEGMENTS AND EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD THE AXIAL CENTER OF SAID ANNULAR MEMBER, (D) AT LEAST ONE OF SAID HINGE MEANS HAVING A REMOVABLE PIN TO ENABLE SAID ANNULAR MEMBER TO BE OPENED, (E) SAID ARCUATE PORTIONS BEING MOUNTED ON SAID ANNULAR SEGMENTS IN RELATION TO SAID HINGE MEANS AND IN RELATION TO EACH OTHER SO THAT WHEN SAID ANNULAR MEMBER IS OPENED, SAID ARCUATE PORTIONS ARE MOVED APART TO ENABLE A PRODUCTION TUBULAR MEMBER TO BE MOVED THEREBETWEEN, (F) SAID ARCUATE PORTIONS MOVING TOWARD EACH OTHER WHEN SAID ANNULAR MEMBER IS CLOSED WHEREBY SAID ARCUATE PORTIONS SURROUND SAID PRODUCTION TUBULAR MEMBERS, (G) AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE MEMBER, AND (H) MEANS SECURING SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER ON SAID ANNULAR MEMBER TO FORM A PLURALITY OF OVERLAPPING LOOPS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID MEMBER FOR ENGAGING AND WIPING THE WELL BORE WALL. 